Demonstration of reduced energy use and optimised flexible energy supply for industrial bio-based systems

The Horizon Europe Cluster 6 grant opportunity supports projects aimed at demonstrating energy-efficient solutions in industrial bio-based systems. This grant aligns with the European Union's Green Deal objectives focused on climate neutrality and promoting a circular economy. The specific call is identified as HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11, which requires multi-partner consortia for application, typically including research institutes, universities, SMEs, and industrial stakeholders.

Eligible entities are drawn from EU member states, Horizon Europe-associated countries, and potentially some third countries. The primary funding is structured as grants, specifically through the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based mechanism, with an estimated funding range for projects usually between €1M and €5M.

The project stage targeted by this call is the demonstration and validation of technologies that enhance energy efficiency in sectors like manufacturing and the bioeconomy. This grant operates under a single-stage open application process with a submission deadline of September 17, 2025. It is competitive, with expected success rates ranging from 10% to 39%, and typically requires co-funding, though specifics can vary by project.

Overall, this call seeks to validate and scale innovations that reduce energy consumption and optimize energy supplies within the industrial bio-based sector, contributing to sustainable practices and economic resilience. The multistage approach and use of digital technologies, including AI, are encouraged to foster innovative solutions.

This is a summary of multiple Horizon Europe Cluster 6 calls for proposals related to biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution, all opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 17, 2025. These calls are single-stage submissions.

The calls cover a range of action types, including:

HORIZON-COFUND: HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions

HORIZON-CSA: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

HORIZON-RIA: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

HORIZON-IA: HORIZON Innovation Actions

Here's a breakdown of the specific topics and their respective budgets and indicative grant numbers:

Biodiversity (BIODIV) Topics:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01: HORIZON-COFUND, Budget: 20,000,000 EUR (for years 2025, 2026, and 2027), Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02: HORIZON-CSA, Budget: 4,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 24,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-04: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 22,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-05: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 18,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-06: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 16,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 3, Grant size: 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-07: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 12,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 6,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-08: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 14,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 7,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-09: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 6,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 3,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-10: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 11,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR

Circular Bioeconomy (CIRCBIO) Topics:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 10,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 5,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 4,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 4,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-04: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 10,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 5,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-05: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 12,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 6,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 4,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-07: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 18,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 9,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-08: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 11,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 5,500,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 10,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 5,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-10: HORIZON-CSA, Budget: 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1, Grant size: around 2,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 11,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 5,500,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12: HORIZON-CSA, Budget: 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1, Grant size: around 2,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 4,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 12,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 6,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15: HORIZON-COFUND, Budget: 30,000,000 EUR (for years 2025, 2026, and 2027 with 10,000,000 EUR in 2025), Indicative number of grants: 1

Zero Pollution (ZEROPOLLUTION) Topics:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 10,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02: HORIZON-CSA, Budget: 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 4,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-04: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 6,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1, Grant size: around 6,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05: HORIZON-RIA, Budget: 12,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 6,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-06: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 8,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 1, Grant size: around 8,000,000 EUR

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-07: HORIZON-IA, Budget: 12,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants: 2, Grant size: around 6,000,000 EUR

Key aspects of the calls:

Circular Bioeconomy: Projects should focus on increasing energy and resource efficiency in industrial bio-based processes, excluding food/feed, biofuels, bioenergy, and cultural/recreation sectors. Proposals should select case studies in EU and Associated Countries.

Energy Efficiency: Proposals should describe how to improve energy efficiency, analyze the rebound effect of energy-saving measures, analyze the water-energy nexus, enable energy consumption flexibility, and analyze the implementation of renewable energy use.

Demonstration: Projects should include a task to demonstrate the analyzed solutions, optimized through digital tools and artificial intelligence, and assess their contribution to climate neutrality.

Multi-Actor Approach: The multi-actor approach is encouraged.

Gender Dimension: The integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Eligible Countries: Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Some non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding.

Financial and Operational Capacity: Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and Award: Award criteria, scoring, thresholds, submission, and evaluation processes are detailed in Annexes D and F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Legal and Financial Set-up: Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and Evaluation:

Application Form: Available in the Submission System (Standard application form HE RIA, IA).

Evaluation Form: Templates will be used with necessary adaptations (Standard evaluation form HE RIA, IA).

Guidance:

HE Programme Guide

Model Grant Agreements (MGA): HE MGA

Call-Specific Instructions and Additional Documents:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

Support and Information:

LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

Electronic Submission Service is accessible via the submission button.

Online Manual provides guidance on procedures.

Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ answers common questions.

Research Enquiry Service answers questions about EU research.

National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance and assistance.

Enterprise Europe Network advises businesses, especially SMEs.

IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions.

European IPR Helpdesk assists on intellectual property issues.

CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardisation.

European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outlines researcher roles and responsibilities.

Partner Search helps find partner organizations.

In summary, this Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call aims to foster a clean, competitive, and circular bioeconomy by funding projects that develop innovative and climate-neutral bio-based processes. It encourages applicants to focus on energy efficiency, resource optimization, and resilience in industrial bio-based systems, excluding certain sectors like food/feed and biofuels. The call provides funding through various action types, including coordination and support actions, research and innovation actions, and innovation actions, each with specific budget allocations and expected outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to consider the multi-actor approach and utilize digital tools to optimize solutions, contributing to climate neutrality and sustainable industrial practices.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include a mix of entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The multi-actor approach is encouraged, suggesting a broad range of potential participants.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND). The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The text encourages a multi-actor approach, implying that a consortium is preferred, although it does not explicitly exclude single applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes the EU and Associated Countries. The text also mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the bioeconomy, circular economy, clean energy, climate neutrality, natural resources, agriculture, and environment sectors. Specifically, it focuses on industrial bio-based systems, excluding food/feed, biofuels, bioenergy, and cultural/recreation sectors. It also targets zero pollution.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets projects at various stages, including research, innovation, and demonstration. The HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions) suggests projects in the earlier stages of research and development, while HORIZON-IA (Innovation Actions) indicates projects focused on demonstration and deployment of innovative solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €2,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €30,000,000 for Cofund Actions. For Research and Innovation Actions and Innovation Actions, the funding ranges from €6,000,000 to €24,000,000, with individual grants ranging from around €3,000,000 to around €12,000,000, or from €5,000,000 to €6,000,000 in some cases.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the text. However, the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate, which would depend on the number of proposals received.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for HORIZON-COFUND actions, as these are designed to support programmes with national or regional funding. The co-funding details are not specified in the provided text but would be outlined in the specific call conditions.

In summary, this Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01) offers various funding opportunities aimed at fostering a clean, competitive, and circular bioeconomy, as well as addressing zero pollution goals. The call includes different types of actions, such as Research and Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions, Coordination and Support Actions, and Cofund Actions, each with specific objectives and funding levels. The geographic scope is primarily the EU and Associated Countries, with potential for participation from non-EU countries under certain conditions. The call targets a wide range of entities, encouraging a multi-actor approach, and focuses on projects related to biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution. The application process involves a single-stage submission, and successful projects will receive grant funding. The specific topics range from improving energy efficiency in bio-based industries to promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry, all contributing to the broader goals of the European Green Deal.